Written Answers Thursday 10 September 2009

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25622 by Stewart Stevenson on 6 August 2009, whether it will specify the policies that the aviation policy branch has assisted in implementing in the last year.

Stewart Stevenson: Policies which the aviation branch has assisted in implementing include:

  maintaining airport infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands for essential air services;

  supporting lifeline air services which cannot be provided commercially;

  delivering lower air fares for some of Scotland’s remotest communities, and

  promoting Scotland to the airline sector globally as a destination worth serving.

  In addition, officials ensure that Scottish ministers’ priorities and views are reflected in the development and implementation by the UK Government and European Commission of aviation policies as they affect Scotland.

Air Services

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25622 by Stewart Stevenson on 6 August 2009, how many people are employed in the aviation policy branch.

Stewart Stevenson: The current complement of the aviation branch is 4.5 full-time equivalents.

Air Services

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25622 by Stewart Stevenson on 6 August 2009, what measures are being used to determine the success of the aviation policy branch.

Stewart Stevenson: A number of successful outcomes have been delivered, including:

  the maintenance of airport infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands;

  the maintenance of lifeline air services;

  the delivery of lower air fares for some of Scotland’s remotest communities;

  the maintenance and enhancement of Scotland’s profile within the airline community globally, and

  the recognition of the Scottish dimension in the development and implementation of reserved policies as they affect Scotland, for example the continued maintenance of the exemption from Air Passenger Duty of our services within and from airports in the Highlands and Islands.

Air Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25986 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 August 2009, why it has concluded that the EC guidelines on start-up aid to airlines would not allow a level of support which would materially influence airlines’ decision-making processes.

Stewart Stevenson: The European Commission’s guidelines substantially restrict start-up aid to airlines in a number of ways, including the following:

  Aid can only be given to EU registered carriers operating on intra-EU routes. No intercontinental services can be supported;

  For routes from airports with between five and 10 million passengers per annum (including Glasgow International and Edinburgh Airports), aid would only be considered in duly substantiated cases, in particular where an airport is located in a disadvantaged region;

  Destination airports would have to have under five million passengers per annum, and

  Support may not exceed an average of 30% of eligible costs over the period supported. Aid is restricted to allowable non-recurring start-up costs and cannot cover aeronautical charges.

Cancer

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the number of women over 70 requesting breast screening.

Nicola Sturgeon: All women aged 70 and over are able to request breast screening by contacting their local Breast Screening Centre.

  Posters are displayed at a local level, for example in GP surgeries and local supermarkets, informing women between the ages of 50 and 70 they will be receiving an invitation to attend for breast screening as mobile units will soon be visiting their area. These posters also let women over 70 years of age know they will not receive a routine invitation but that they are welcome to contact their local Breast Screening Centre to request an appointment.

Children

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20200 by Adam Ingram on 10 February 2009, whether the Scottish Government has responded to the report of the short-life working group on clothing grants.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government, in partnership with COSLA, is actively considering the recommendations of the short-life working group on clothing grants. We will respond to the recommendations once these considerations have concluded.

Concessionary Travel

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26257 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 August 2009, whether it will guarantee that the setting of the reimbursement rate payable to bus operators will not result in any adverse changes in the eligibility criteria for the free bus travel scheme in the future for those reaching the age of 60 in each of the next 10 years.

Stewart Stevenson: We have been clear that the eligibility criteria for all those who currently benefit from the scheme will not be affected by the setting of the reimbursement rate payable to bus operators.

Crofting

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Crofting Foundation.

Roseanna Cunningham: I regularly meet with crofting stakeholders including the Scottish Crofting Foundation (SCF). I am please to announce that I will be meeting with the SCF next week to discuss their response to the draft Crofting Reform Bill. I am also attending the SCF’s Annual Gathering on 29 September where I will be delivering a keynote speech.

  Scottish Government officials are in regular contact the with SCF. Officials presented the draft Crofting Reform Bill at the SCF’s Annual General Meeting on the 23 June in Dingwall. The SCF are also represented at the Crofting Cross party Group.

Culture

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the work of the Lighthouse in Glasgow to promote architecture and design in Scotland can be continued.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to my earlier answer in response to question S3O-07761.

Economy

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments it has received from the UK Treasury about allowing a further acceleration of capital spend to help address the threat to Scotland’s economy identified by the latest OECD projections that indicate that the United Kingdom is facing zero growth.

John Swinney: There are no current commitments from HM Treasury about the scope for further acceleration of capital expenditure. The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with the UK Government about a range of financial issues, and we are making representations about the scope for accelerating capital spending into 2010-11. This would allow us to continue to support economic recovery in Scotland in the face of many independent forecasters suggesting lower levels of growth in the UK next financial year compared to the HM Treasury forecast in Budget 2009.

Education

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how removing the £10 and £20 categories of the Education Maintenance Allowance benefits those families on the lowest incomes.

Fiona Hyslop: The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) programme was designed to encourage young people from low income families to remain in learning. This has been focused on young people who remain in school or go to college.

  We know that some of our most vulnerable young people – from the lowest income families – do not want to stay at school and are not ready to go to college. That is why we are reinvesting the money saved from refocusing EMA in developing our pilots of Activity Agreements.

  For some of our most vulnerable young people, learning in a community or third sector setting will be the best option when they reach their school leaving age. Activity Agreements will, for the first time, treat this as a genuinely mainstream option for young people and improve the way they and their families are supported.

Education

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will save by reducing the number of pupils eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance.

Fiona Hyslop: The money generated by the changes we have introduced this year to the Education Maintenance Allowance programme will be reinvested in our pilots of Activity Agreements. We expect this to be around £3.3 million in 2009-10.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason energy performance certificates (EPC) without data for new dwellings will be registered by local authorities as scanned computer files, given that the Homes Energy Efficiency Database (HEED) can register both EPCs and the underlying input data for new buildings.

Stewart Stevenson: The submission of an energy performance certificate (EPC) for new dwellings calculated using the UK Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) forms part of the building warrant completion certificate process. The maintenance of such records is set out in section 24 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 which requires every local authority to keep a Building Standards Register. The HEED database and the government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) approved software do not allow the automated uploading of data.

  The requirement to provide an EPC for an existing building sits outwith the building warrant process. Proposals in relation to the use of UK calculation tools and retention of information on a database were subject to a consultation exercise undertaken in 2006. Both proposals received widespread support.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when sufficient information is available, the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) can be used to create a more accurate energy performance certificate (EPC) for existing dwellings and conversions and whether such EPCs, with the underlying data, will be registered on the Homes Energy Efficiency Database alongside those based on reduced data SAP.

Stewart Stevenson: Energy performance certificates (EPCs) are required for new construction and on sale or rental, not conversion. An EPC could be produced using full SAP as enhanced information for building owners and tenants, in addition to the reduced data SAP EPC that follows the government approved methodology for the calculation and lodgement of EPCs for existing buildings. Use of full SAP may involve a disproportionate amount of data collection work if used for existing buildings. A facility to export data from an EPC produced using SAP to the Home Energy Efficiency Database does not exist.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14827 by Stewart Stevenson on 23 July 2008, for what reason a suitable central register for energy performance certificates for existing non-domestic buildings and the underlying data has not yet been identified, given that such a register has been identified in England and Wales.

Stewart Stevenson: A similar approach to that adopted for dwellings is being carefully considered. This will allow a body (Keeper of the Register) access to information to target those buildings with the poorest ratings.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures it will implement to ensure that the default values used in assessing existing non-domestic buildings are not routinely used to minimise the time required to produce energy performance certificates at the expense of an accurate rating.

Stewart Stevenson: Energy performance certificates (EPCs) for existing buildings may only be produced by members of Approved Organisations. The protocols entered into by Approved Organisations require that their members act in a professional manner when carrying out assessments. This includes determining input values for construction elements and building systems which are representative of the building being assessed.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an energy performance certificate will be required for non-commercial buildings when a lease is assigned, as is the case in England and Wales.

Stewart Stevenson: Responsibility for compliance with legislation lies with the building owner who should consider the transaction situation with specific regard to regulations 3 and 5 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will address the situation whereby, under the Simplified Building Energy Model used to create an energy performance certificate for non-domestic buildings, an identical building can be rated G in Scotland and C in England and Wales.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the view of the Scottish Property Federation that investors may limit their property investments in Scotland if equivalent buildings in England and Wales achieve a better energy rating.

Stewart Stevenson: There is no hard evidence to indicate that this occurs. However, it is clear that an important difference between the EPC regimes is that in Scotland a direct assessment of emissions is given, which is indexed against an absolute scale. In England, the emissions assessment is indexed relative to benchmarks of "typical" existing buildings.

  Research has been commissioned to demonstrate and compare carbon dioxide emission ratings from building types in England and Scotland using the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM). I anticipate that the research will be published in late 2009.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures it has put in place to ensure that all energy performance certificates for new buildings are either produced by an Approved Certifier of Design (Section 6 - Energy) or that the inputs to the calculation and the calculation itself are checked by a similarly qualified expert in the local authority area, as required by Article 10 of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: Production of the energy performance certificate (EPC) is part of the building warrant compliance process. Building warrant applications are checked for compliance with the standards by the verifiers, prior to being granted. Deviations from original proposals are taken into account by making amendments to warrants. On completion of work, the relevant person (usually the building owner) submits a completion certificate and the verifier must make reasonable inquiry before they can accept it.

  The EPC submitted with the completion certificate is no different from any other aspect of building regulations and it would be checked in the same manner regardless of who produced it. Under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, the use of an Approved Certifier of Design (Section 6 – Energy) is optional. The purpose of the Scheme is to certify that the work complies with Section 6 (Energy) standards. Provision of an EPC is a secondary process.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it will make available to local authorities to enable them to check the accuracy of the inputs and calculations used to prepare energy performance certificates for new buildings when these are not issued by an Approved Certifier of Design (Section 6 - Energy).

Stewart Stevenson: It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives.

  The local authorities’ duties as verifiers under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 are intended to be self financing from the fees received from building warrant submissions. Fees are prescribed by the Building (Scotland) Fees Regulations 2004 and are based on the estimated value of the works covered by the building warrant application.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of concerns raised in England and Wales, whether energy software approved (protocol) organisations will be told not to use unqualified data gatherers except with regard to affordable housing stock.

Stewart Stevenson: Officials wrote to all Approved Organisations on 2 July 2008 and again on 25 February 2009 regarding this issue. Responsibility for the production of energy performance certificates for existing buildings lies with the Approved Organisation members who must be satisfied that the information provided is correct. Approved Organisations were asked to consider the use of such data in terms of reliability and the ability of its members to sign off data in this respect.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, following its consultation on improving the energy performance of existing buildings, whether assessments of carbon and energy performance will be registered on a central register alongside energy performance certificates.

Stewart Stevenson: No decision has been taken in relation to the registration of such certificates.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms it has in place to collect, collate and analyse the underlying data used in preparation of energy performance certificates for new buildings.

Stewart Stevenson: New buildings are required to meet the most demanding energy standards in the UK.

  There are no plans to require local authorities to provide such an analysis.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make the collected and collated data used in producing energy performance certificates available anonymously for the purpose of analysis and policy development.

Stewart Stevenson: There are currently no plans to publish this information.

Energy Efficiency

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the UHI Millennium Institute to satisfy the criteria for achieving university status.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the principal requirements that remain to be satisfied by the UHI Millennium Institute to achieve university status and what these requirements are.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council are actively working with UHI Millennium Institute to assist it with its preparations for an application for university title. The QAA has in particular been working with UHI to discuss the criteria, documentation and scrutiny process that will be involved. However, the timing of an application to the Privy Council is ultimately a matter for UHI in light of its assessment of its ability to fulfil the quality and standards that university title in Scotland carries with it. UHI was granted taught degree awarding powers on 1 August 2008.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) households and (b) individuals contacted the Energy Saving Trust for the Energy Assistance Package by the end of August 2009.

Alex Neil: Information on the Energy Assistance Package, including numbers of callers and those receiving assistance at each stage of the package, is available on the Energy Saving Trust website at:

  http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/Scotland/Energy-Assistance-Package/Programme-Statistics.

  The latest statistics available cover the period to end July 2009.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) households and (b) individuals are expected to contact the Energy Saving Trust for the Energy Assistance Package in 2009-10.

Alex Neil: Indicative targets set for the Energy Savings Trust were to achieve 75,000 individual contacts for the Energy Assistance Package in 2009-10. Targets for the number of households were not specified.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to increase the volume of applications to the Energy Saving Trust for the Energy Assistance Package and how it will increase call-handling capacity.

Alex Neil: Energy Saving Trust (EST) has developed and is managing a campaign to raise awareness of the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) among fuel poor households and their influencers. Since April 2009 a number of initiatives have been underway such as direct mailings, health centre promotions, PR, print advertising and radio. An integrated campaign based on customer insight will be launched in September and will go out via television advertising, partnerships and direct mail. Information about the package is also available online at www.energyassistancepackage.com and has been sent to all MSPs.

  Sufficient resources are in place to meet the call volumes anticipated under the Energy Assistance Package with the Energy Saving Trust having recruited and trained many new advisors to work on the Package. One of the strengths of delivering EAP through the EST advice network is the availability of trained advisors who can handle the wide variety of energy advice calls to the network; this arrangement provides flexibility at times of high demand. Reflecting this combination of investment and flexibility the advice network has responded successfully to recent direct mail activity which resulted in a doubling of call volumes to the 0800 number for the package.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many legacy Warm Deal applications and legacy central heating programme installations have been carried out following the commencement of the Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: The managing agent has indicated that 3,519 central heating systems and 1,132 Warm Deal installations have taken place between 1 April and the 31 August 2009.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems were installed, not including legacy central heating programme installations, as part of the Energy Assistance Package by the end of August 2009.

Alex Neil: The managing agent has indicated that 173 central heating systems were installed under the Energy Assistance Package by the end of August.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individual applications to the Energy Saving Trust for the Energy Assistance Package have resulted in work being allocated to contractors and what percentage this represents of all applications.

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package provides a range of measures to applicants and details of those and the numbers benefiting can be found at:

  http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/Scotland/Energy-Assistance-Package/Programme-Statistics.

  The latest statistics available cover the period from April to the end of July.

  Of the 1,477 referred to Stage 4 by the end of July, the managing agent has indicated that 1,324 were accepted, subject to survey, and 1,296 of those were allocated to survey. Of those allocated to survey, 21 have subsequently cancelled and 611 have been identified as qualifying for Stage 4 measures.

  Of the 611 the managing agent is progressing 349 applications (57%) i.e. awaiting permissions, agreeing specifications etc and 262 applications (43%) have been allocated to a contractor for work to be undertaken.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procurement process will be used to appoint contractors for the delivery of the (a) Energy Assistance Package and (b) Home Insulation Scheme.

Alex Neil: The managing agent is responsible for delivery of the measures available under Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package. The individual surveyors and installers through which the managing agent delivers these are appointed following a tendering process which is open to all competent suppliers and is consistent with EU procurement rules.

  The Energy Saving Trust, as the Scottish Government’s managing agent for the Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) is currently carrying out a procurement exercise to appoint the supplier offering the best deal for HIS customers in a given area. This will be an open and competitive process in order to obtain the most economically advantageous tender and reflect EU procedures and regulations. It will be the responsibility of each supplier, when appointed, to enter into contracts as they see fit to ensure that the required skills are available to ensure installation of appropriate insulation measures in each area.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether lowest price will determine the appointment of contractors for the delivery of the (a) Energy Assistance Package and (b) Home Insulation Scheme.

Alex Neil: The managing agent is responsible for delivery of the measures available under Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package. The network of surveyors and installers appointed by the managing agent to deliver these, is appointed following an open tendering processes, consistent with EU procurement rules, based on both quality and price.

  Under the Home Insulation Scheme procurement process, suppliers will be appointed on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender and the procurement process will assess a range of relevant factors in order to ensure this.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that existing contractors in different communities across Scotland can contribute to the delivery of the Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: The managing agent is responsible for delivery of the measures available under Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package. This is achieved through a network of surveyors and installers appointed by the managing agent following an open tendering processes, consistent with EU procurement rules, based on quality and price.

  The Scottish Government continues to support the approach taken by the managing agent to secure a wide contractor base capable of meeting the requirements of the service according to the specification provided.

Environment

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its view is on the development of carbon-capture coal-fired power stations and their role in Scotland’s future energy procurement strategy.

Jim Mather: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and clean coal technologies have the potential to transform the way we generate power and make an important contribution to Scotland’s low carbon future. Scotland is well placed to take a leading role in the development and commercialisation of carbon capture and storage technology.

  The Scottish Government has consulted on its draft thermal guidance, including aspects of CCS. The Department of Energy and Climate Change consultation on the proposed clean coal framework closed yesterday. We will now await the completion of that consultation process before finalising our own guidance to ensure that as far as possible a broadly consistent approach is taken across the UK.

  CCS has the potential for a whole new industry to emerge in Scotland with considerable economic opportunity. We have the knowledge and expertise in our universities and industry, the infrastructure in the North Sea, and the consistant leadership in government necessary to make this happen and achieve our ambition of a low carbon energy economy.

Environment

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings there have been since January 2009 involving ministers to discuss its green jobs strategy; on what dates and what organisations were involved.

John Swinney: Ministers and officials engage on a frequent and on-going basis with a wide range of businesses, environmental groups, enterprise agencies and local authorities to ensure Scotland gains maximum economic benefit from the low carbon economy.

  In February we announced 10 Energy Pledges which focus on creating jobs, reducing emissions and saving householders and businesses money. These form a basis for discussions on delivering a low carbon economy in Scotland.

  We have also delivered, or are in the course of delivering, a huge range of actions designed to create a coherent policy direction in the green energy sector, and ultimately lead to the creation of a high volume of green jobs. These include:

  Formation of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, chaired by the First Minister;

  Publication of a Renewables Action Plan;

  Publication of a Marine Energy Roadmap;

  An Energy Efficiency Action Plan;

  A Renewable Heat Action Plan, and

  A Carbon Capture and Storage Roadmap.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the start and finish dates were of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot for which its news release of 3 August 2009 reported a 14% increase in passenger numbers and 23% increase in car traffic on the CalMac Ferries Ltd operated services to the Western Isles and what the percentage increase or decrease in (a) passengers, (b) cars and (c) freight was for the same time period on each of the ferry routes operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd or NorthLink Ferries not covered by the RET pilot.

Stewart Stevenson: The period over which the early results of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) were reported and monitored was 1 October 2008 to 30 June 2009. The comparison was with the period 1 October 2007 to 30 June 2008. The pilot commenced on 19 October 2008.

  On the RET routes the change in the number of commercial vehicle ranged from 0.9% to 9% with an average increase of 2%. The following tables set out the percentage increases/decreases for the non-RET routes on the ferry services operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd and NorthLink Ferries Ltd.

  CalMac Ferries LTD

  

Route
Passengers
Cars
CommercialVehicles*


Wemyss Bay - Rothesay
+1%
+1%
-14%


Ardrossan - Brodick
-3%
-1%
-14%


Claonaig - Lochranza
0%
-3%
-16%


Largs - Cumbrae Slip
-3%
-8%
-13%


Colintraive - Rhubodach
-4%
-4%
-11%


Tarbert Loch Fyne - Portavadie
+5%
-4%
+18%


Mallaig - Armadale
+9%
+13%
-7%


Mallaig - Eigg/Muck/Rum/Canna
+4%
-14%
-7%


Tobermory - Chilchoan
+3%
+10%
-25%


Sconser - Raasay
+7%
+8%
1%


Berneray - Leverburgh
+3%
+7%
-16%


Ardmhor(Barra) - Eriskay
+23%
+14%
6%


Kennacraig - Islay
+4%
+3%
-4%


Oban - Craignure
+1%
+3%
-3%


Fishnish - Lochaline
0%
+1%
-24%


Kennacraig - Islay/Colonsay/Oban
-11%
-14%
-34%


Oban - Colonsay
-6%
-7%
0%


Oban - Lismore
+18%
+17%
-3%


Fionnphort - Iona
+1%
+5%
7%


Tayinloan - Gigha
+3%
+1%
-13%



  Note: *Freight recorded as commercial vehicle numbers.

  Northlink Ferries LTD

  

Route
Passengers
Cars
Freight**


Stromness - Scrabster
+2.6%
-2.2%
+28.4%


Aberdeen - Kirkwall
-1.4%
-11%
-0.8%


Kirkwall - Lerwick
-1.6%
-14.5%
-3.2%


Aberdeen - Lerwick
+5.7%
-1.5%
-2.6%



  Note: **Freight recorded as lane metres.

Fuel Poverty

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the use of the energy performance certificate to measure fuel poverty rather than simply recording the energy performance of a home.

Alex Neil: The purpose of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) is to rate the energy efficiency and environmental impact of a particular dwelling and recommend cost effective ways to improve the energy performance of that dwelling. They are a labelling system to allow prospective buyers and tenants to compare the energy efficiency of different properties.

  Fuel poverty levels are based on the ratio of household income required to heat a dwelling to a standard heating regime. A ratio above 10% means that a household is considered to be fuel poor. EPCs do not provide the energy costs nor the income level of the household resident in the dwelling and so cannot be used to measure fuel poverty.

Fuel Poverty

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the threshold for fuel poverty in the Scottish Housing Quality Standard is different to that used in the Energy Assistance Package.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the threshold for fuel poverty in the Energy Assistance Package should be the same as the measure in the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the threshold is at which a house is considered fuel poor under the terms of the (a) Energy Assistance Package and (b) Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Alex Neil: A person is considered to be fuel poor if the ratio of household income required to heat their dwelling to a standard heating regime is greater than 10%.

  The Energy Assistance Package provides a four stage approach to helping people vulnerable to fuel poverty. Stages one and two include energy efficiency advice, income maximisation and social tariff checks. Stages three and four are targeted at those who are most likely to be fuel poor and offer standard and enhanced physical measures to improve the energy efficiency of the home. Eligibility for stages 3 and 4 is based on a number of factors including age and income of the household and the energy efficiency of the dwelling.

  The Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) sets out the standard that all homes in the social rented sector are expected to meet, independent of the household characteristics. The standard is based on a number of broad quality criteria, including the presence of certain physical energy efficiency measures. SHQS is not used as a yardstick to determine or measure levels of fuel poverty: the income level and fuel charges faced by the householder are required for this purpose and neither is a factor in the SHQS.

Health

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will tackle obesity in children

Shona Robison: We published Healthy Eating, Active Living : An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity in June 2008. The plan set out in detail a range of actions that together with our partners would contribute to tackling obesity, particularly in children. This included £19 million improving infant and maternal nutrition, £6 million for child healthy weight initiatives as well as continued support to existing programmes such as Active Schools and Hungry for Success.

  Our actions have also been supported by a national indicator for local authorities and HEAT target for the NHS aimed at reducing obesity in children.

  In addition, improving the nation’s health is at the heart of the new Games Legacy Plan for Scotland. Central to this will be the development of a new Active Nation campaign which will aim to encourage each of us to take our own steps, individually or in groups, to get more active in the run up to 2014 and beyond.

Health

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have died as a result of medical negligence in Scottish hospitals in each month since May 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information pertaining to the cause of deaths in Scotland is available on the General Registrars Office for Scotland web site using the following link:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk.

Homecoming Scotland

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage local history and oral history groups as well as local authorities to engage with their counterparts in communities with the same place names abroad to build on the success of Homecoming 2009.

Michael Russell: Homecoming Scotland 2009 has served as a great stimulus in encouraging individual local authorities and communities to engage with their counterparts in communities around the world that share the same place name.

  A number of local authorities have proactively developed links with their towns in the context of their Homecoming activity this year and, while it is for local authorities to determine what cultural activities they pursue in order to raise their profile at home and overseas, we would of course welcome and encourage any activity undertaken by local authorities, local history and oral history beyond the Homecoming Year which prompts learning and the sharing of learning and which develops and promotes an understanding of Scotland, its communities and their place in the world.

  A notable example of communities with the same place name engaging together is the "This Is Who Are" project being delivered by International Cultural Connections as part of the Homecoming Scotland programme. Through a series of community photography projects that pairs Canadian towns and cities with the places they were named after in Scotland, the connections between Scotland and its diaspora in Canada have been explored. In addition to the photography generated by each community, interviews have been conducted with participants exploring their Scottish heritage and knowledge of contemporary Scotland. The exhibition is touring venues in Scotland and Canada and will continue to do so beyond the close of the Homecoming Year.

Housing

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which registered social landlords have (a) used and (b) not used the Public Contracts Scotland website.

John Swinney: The following housing associations are currently, as of 3 August, registered and using the Public Contracts Scotland portal to advertise their contracting activity.

  Aberdeenshire Housing Partnership

  Almond Housing Association

  Castlehill Housing Association

  Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership Ltd.

  Eildon Housing Association

  Fife Housing Association

  Garrion Peoples Housing Co-Operative

  Glasgow Housing Association

  Kingdom Housing Association Limited

  Kingdom Initiatives Housing Association

  Queens Cross Housing Association Ltd

  River Clyde Homes

  Viewpoint Housing Association

  Waverley Housing

  Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association Limited.

  This information is freely available to anyone who wishes to keep up to date with the progress in their specific area of interest.

  Instructions to obtain future reports:

  If you go to the portal website; www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk.

  On the left hand side you will see a menu bar, select "info centre" and then "publications". Scroll the screen down to Selection number 5 which is headed "Scottish Contracting Authorities", if you select this heading by clicking it the system will take you to a page where it asks for you email address. Enter your email address and click send and the most recent list of all organisations currently using the portal will be emailed to you directly.

Inter-Governmental Links

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the First Minister what discussions he has had with the head of the civil service regarding relations with the UK Government.

Alex Salmond: I have not had any such discussions with the UK Head of the Civil Service, Sir Gus O'Donnell. But I discuss matters of importance to the Scottish Government with Sir John Elvidge, as Head of the Civil Service in Scotland, on a regular basis.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish national standards and guidelines for risk assessment practice to make clear the necessity for fully assessing the risk of serious harm for sex offenders and serious violent offenders.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Executive is actively working with agencies to introduce the Level of Service Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) which aims to introduce a common approach for risk assessment practice. The version of LS/CMI proposed also includes a method for assessing the nature, pattern and seriousness of the offending and, where a risk of serious harm is identified, provides a framework for risk management planning.

  Implementation of this approach across offender management agencies will be supported by the provision of assessed training and related guidance for those tasked with risk management of offenders.

  Local Authority Social Work Departments also work to National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System, which set out their roles and responsibilities in respect of the management and supervision of offenders, including risk assessment, a clear risk management plan, specific interventions, and a process for regular review of the individual’s progress.

Justice

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Courts Administration and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have access to the police officer rota system within each court jurisdiction.

Kenny MacAskill: Scottish Court Service and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) do not have direct access to the police officer rota system. However, in eight of the 11 areas, there is a police liaison officer who has access to the system within the Procurator Fiscal offices there.

  Where an accused person pleads not guilty the court fixes a trial diet having regard to information on the availability of police witnesses provided in this manner, or in some instances from more general information on witness availability held by the Procurator Fiscal.

Local Government Finance

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA on local authority budgets for 2010-11.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has met with COSLA throughout the summer to discuss a wide range of issues, including local authority budgets for 2010-11.

Ministerial Visits

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to follow up the visit of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth to Japan from 20 to 23 July 2009.

John Swinney: My visit to Japan in July, focused on strengthening business links with Japan through a series of meetings with Japanese businesses, Scottish companies in Japan and academic and industry associates.

  I met with a range of Japanese businesses with the primary objective of encouraging inward investment to Scotland. There has since been more positive engagement with two potential inward investors with projects in the energy and chemicals sectors, resulting in a series of follow-up meetings with Scottish Development International (SDI) and companies in Scotland. Meetings held with two companies (one a life sciences and the other a renewable energy company), which were in the process of considering activities in Europe, were very positive and have resulted in planned visits to Scotland. I extended further invitations to Japanese companies to visit Scotland and I’ve already met with one company this month (September).

  I have made high-level follow-up phone calls to the University of Abertay Dundee and the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM). I have gained the University of Abertay Dundee’s support for, and participation in, Digital Media business development activities in Japan. My call to the CRM expressed my appreciation for the very positive impact of its June visit to Japan and secured CRM support for the next stage of SDI’s business development activities in Japan.

  The Chief Executive of SDI is visiting Japan this month (September) as part of the follow-up to my activities with high impact companies.

Ministerial Engagements

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements the Minister for Parliamentary Business has undertaken since 25 June 2009.

Bruce Crawford: Since 25 June 2009 I have undertaken a number of official engagements. These are detailed in the following table:

  

Date
Event


29 June 2009
Attended Homecoming Reception, Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre


1 July 2009
Represented the Scottish Government at the Hearts Great war memorial to remember the Scottish soldiers of McCrae’s Battalion who fell at the Battle of the Somme in 1917 at Contalmaison, France.


25 July 2009
Attended The Gathering, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh


26 July 2009
Attended The Gathering, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh


27 July 2009
Attended Homecoming Reception, Melrose Rugby Club


28 July 2009
Participated in National Conversation, Corn Exchange, Melrose


17 August 2009
Signed the Stirling Single Outcome Agreement at Gartmore House, Stirlingshire, with members of the Stirling Community Planning Partnership. 


17 August 2009
Attended Homecoming Reception, King’s College Campus, Elphinstone Hall


18 August 2009
Participated in National Conversation, Kings College, Aberdeen


18 August 2009
Visit to Cytosystems company, Craibstone, Aberdeen



  As well as this I have attended the summer cabinets in Dundee, Melrose, and Aberdeen.

Multiple Sclerosis

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many multiple sclerosis specialist staff are employed at each hospital in each NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26936 on 10 September 2009. All the answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 14 December 2007 announcing annual funding of £5 million to support nursing and midwifery students from September 2008 onwards, whether the funding has been made available, how the funding has been spent so far and whether the funding will continue in future years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The £5 million funding package, available since 2008-09, is being invested in work to improve the support for nursing and midwifery students throughout their education and training experience. The funding is being spread over several financial years as some initiatives have required significant development before roll out.

  A delivery group, with stakeholder and partnership involvement, has been charged with delivering an integrated programme of work and Short-Life Working Groups are leading on key outcomes. These include Data Enhancement, Marketing, Recruitment and Selection, Retention and Practice Learning. Total expenditure by the end of financial year 2009-10 will be in the region of £1.13 million for initiatives to improve student selection and recruitment, successful student retention and transition into employment. The Delivery Group is committed to ensuring that the funding package continues to be disbursed appropriately.

  Decisions about future funding will be informed by the evaluation of the delivery group’s work and by decisions about the next spending review.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what activities it has undertaken to tackle the attrition rates of nursing and midwifery students.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26574 on 10 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  The Recruitment and Retention Delivery Group is taking forward a number of specific initiatives to improve student retention on the nursing and midwifery pre-registration education programmes. These include work to ensure better recruitment and selection of students, consistent student progression data, the scoping and development of a national attrition risk identification tool, the introduction of pastoral support advisors in three pilot areas and improving support strategies for leave of absence students.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to tackle the attrition rates of nursing and midwifery students.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-26574 and S3W-26575 on 10 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  In addition to on-going work, the Delivery Group on Recruitment and Retention and it’s Sub Groups will take forward further work, including initiatives to support high quality practice learning environments for students and the piloting of an absence management process across four higher education institutions.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to reduce the intake of nursing and midwifery students before attrition rates begin to decline and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Nicola Sturgeon: The annual intakes for pre-registration nursing and midwifery students are set by the Scottish Government and are informed by the Nursing and Midwifery Workforce Planning process. This annual process is embedded within arrangements for healthcare workforce planning across NHS Scotland. The process examines trends, including student attrition and future projections, to support decision making about student intake numbers. The workforce planning process is supported by partnership and other key stakeholders through a virtual network.

  No decision has yet been made regarding target student intake numbers for 2010-11.

NHS Staff

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many multiple sclerosis specialist staff are employed in each NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not centrally available. A wide range of health professionals, which includes medical staff, clinical nurse specialists and allied health professionals, are needed to care for those patients with specific conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis. National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland publish NHS Workforce data which is available from the website link http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/796.html .

Planning

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent changes to the planning system, in particular the neighbourhood notification process, are proving effective.

Stewart Stevenson: The legislative changes have been in place for just over a month, so it is too early to make an assessment of their effectiveness. We are taking steps to monitor the situation and will consider the issues raised.

Police

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offensive weapons were seized by the police as a result of stop and searches in the Lothians in each of the last three years.

Kenny MacAskill: Information on the number of stop and searches or weapons received as a result of stop and searches is not routinely collected centrally. Information relating to the number of stop and searches and weapons seized as a result were collated for time periods within 2008 and 2009 for a one-off exercise. Information is available by police force area and as such it is not possible to provide data solely for the Lothians.

  There were 308 offensive weapons seized as a result of 18,841 stop and searches carried out by Lothian and Borders Police from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.

  Statistics collected on the year long Safer Scotland anti-violence campaign show that the campaign proved a success in targeting knife and alcohol related violence across Scotland. Figures taken from the Safer Scotland Anti Violence Campaign 06-07 Final Report show that some 74,000 searches were carried out resulting in 1,375 knives and 1,165 other weapons being seized. Further statistics can be found in the report itself, the link to the website is:

  http://www.actiononviolence.co.uk/aov/files/Safer%20Scotland%20final%20report%2006%20-%2007.pdf.

Procurement

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that public bodies and local authorities pay their bills within 10 days of receipt.

John Swinney: The payment performance of the Scottish Government and the bodies that use the Scottish Government’s systems is at a very high level, with an average of 95% of payments for the month of August 2009 made within 10 days consistent with the kind of levels we have been sustaining over a number of months.

  The commitment to the 10 day target was communicated to all of our public bodies and to colleagues in health boards and local government. All public bodies are being encouraged to adopt this target in as short a timescale as possible. However, the necessary action lies with those bodies.

Public Sector Pay

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the lowest hourly pay rate is for staff covered by its public sector pay policy and how many staff are employed at that rate, broken down by public body.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it would cost per annum to implement a minimum pay rate of £7 per hour for all staff covered by its public sector pay policy.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff covered by its public sector pay policy have a pay rate of under £7 per hour, broken down by public body.

John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.

  Contact details for each of the bodies subject to the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy are as follows:

  The Scottish Government and its associated departments: www.scotland.gov.uk;

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service: www.copfs.gov.uk, and

  Executive Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies and Public Corporations –contact details for each body can be found on the Government’s Public Bodies website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/Links.

Rail Network

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive at how many railway stations parking charges are applied, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Stevenson: Twenty-five stations in Scotland have car parks where charges are applied:

  

Station
Local Authority


Aberdeen 
Aberdeen City 


Airdrie 
North Lanarkshire 


Arbroath 
Angus


Ayr 
South Ayrshire


Cupar
Fife 


Dumfries 
Dumfries and Galloway


Dunbar 
East Lothian 


East Kilbride 
South Lanarkshire 


Falkirk High 
Falkirk 


Glasgow Central High
Glasgow City


Glasgow Queen St
Glasgow City


Gourock 
Inverclyde


Haymarket
Edinburgh City 


Helensburgh Central 
West Dunbartonshire


Inverkeithing 
Fife 


Inverness 
Highlands 


Kilmarnock 
East Ayrshire


Newcraighall 
Edinburgh City 


Oban 
Argyll and Bute


Paisley Gilmour St
Renfrewshire


Perth 
Perth and Kinross


Pitlochry 
Perth and Kinross


Stirling 
Stirling 


Waverley 
Edinburgh City 


Wemyss Bay 
Inverclyde

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the current planning system and guidelines for onshore wind farm development in Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: The government believes that national planning policy provides a sound basis for planning authorities to prepare local policies for onshore wind farms. As with all forms of development, planning applications should be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will, in collaboration with local authorities, map areas that are out-of-bounds for onshore wind farm developments in order to provide guidance to developers on areas that are appropriate for the submission of such planning applications.

Stewart Stevenson: Planning is a local responsibility and planning authorities should support the development of wind farms in locations where the technology can operate efficiently and environmental and cumulative impacts can be satisfactorily addressed.

  The government expects planning authorities to prepare spatial frameworks for wind farms over 20 megawatts. These frameworks should identify: (a) areas requiring significant protection because they are designated for their national or international natural heritage value, or they are green belts or are areas where the cumulative impact of existing wind farms limits further development; (b) areas with potential constraints where proposals will be considered on their individual merits against identified criteria, and (c) areas of search where appropriate proposals are likely to be supported subject to detailed consideration against identified criteria and all other material considerations. These frameworks should provide greater certainty for developers and local communities and speed up the decision making process.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the salary scales are for each Scottish Futures Trust post advertised in Scotland on Sunday on 21 June 2009.

John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The salary scales will be made public pending appointments in accordance with SFT’s publication scheme.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each member of staff of the Scottish Futures Trust receives in (a) salary, (b) pension entitlement and (c) bonuses.

John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows:

  On the question of (a) salary, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25137 on 10 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  On (b) pension entitlement, Scottish Future Trust staff are entitled to join the standard Local Government Pension Scheme. On (c) bonuses, the Scottish Futures Trust has no staff bonus scheme.

Scottish Government Staff

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been recruited as employees by the Scottish Government as a result of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme in each year since the start of the scheme.

John Swinney: We do not hold this information.

Small Businesses

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in West Dunbartonshire have applied for the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

Jim Mather: We do not hold data on the number of applications for the Small Business Bonus Scheme. Earlier this year, we published a report which showed that 655 business properties in West Dunbartonshire benefited under the Scheme in 2008-09, to the value of over £3 million. Five hundred and fifty-four of these qualified for 100 per cent relief and so paid no business rates.

Waste Management

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what role incineration has in its waste management policy.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is committed to a Zero Waste approach and the Zero Waste Plan is currently out to public consultation. The plan prioritises waste reduction, re-use, recycling and composting over other forms of waste treatment such as incineration. This is why in January 2008 the Scottish Government set a 25% cap on energy-from-waste and that cap is retained in the current plan.

  The National Planning Framework 2, which was published in June this year, makes it clear that the 25% cap on energy from municipal waste will apply at the local as well as the national level and will be a material consideration in land-use development decisions.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much paper was used by public sector bodies each year over the last three years.

John Swinney: Information on the amount of paper used by public sector bodies is not held centrally. However, the national contract for paper introduced by Procurement Scotland in September 2008 has been utilised by a significant number of public sector bodies and, during the period September to June 2009, approximately 1.3 billion sheets of paper were purchased through the new contract arrangements. All of the paper purchased under the new contract is from sustainable sources (either recycled or FSC certified).

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much food waste it produced each year over the last three years.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the amount of food waste it produces.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assess the levels of food waste in its own offices.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s catering contractor is contractually required to keep food waste to a minimum. This is achieved through specified portion controls and ensuring that the volume of food in catering orders is appropriate.

  Currently no separate records of food waste are maintained. However, a new waste management contract is being let which will require the waste contractor to improve the handling of waste, including food waste, to allow improved waste disposal options to be introduced, including composting.

Whisky Industry

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings ministers have had with (a) Diageo, (b) Edmington, (c) William Grants, (d) the Scotch Whisky Association, (e) the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and (f) the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) since 25 June 2009 regarding the future of the Scotch whisky industry.

John Swinney: Scottish ministers have met both Diageo and Whyte and Mackay to discuss issues around their recent announcement of expected job losses in the whisky industry. Discussions have also been held with representatives of Unite and GMB trade unions. No ministerial level discussions have been held since the 25 June with the Scotch Whisky Association or the Confederation of British Industry or the STUC on whisky issues although regular discussions take place with these organisations.

  The Scottish Government is working with interested parties to consider how our determination to make Scotland known as a land of food and drink can support the long-term future and sustained profitability of the Scotch whisky industry.

WorldSkills

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recognise the outstanding achievement of the Scottish competitors in the WorldSkills UK team in Calgary last week.

Keith Brown: I would certainly join you in congratulating our competitors, their families, employers and training providers for this outstanding result. Scotland achieved two Golds, one Bronze and a Medallion of Excellence out of a UK total of three Golds, six Bronzes and 14 Medallions of Excellence. This is the highest medal tally of any Scottish contingent within Team UK at WorldSkills and played a considerable part in the overall UK tally.

  The Scottish winners were:

  Mark Nevin - Gold - Painting and Decorating

  Richard Sagar - Gold - Electrical Installation

  Katie Watson - Bronze - Restaurant Service

  Martin Eusebi - Medal of Excellence - Mechanical Engineering - (for achieving the international benchmark).

  I have had the great pleasure in meeting the young people involved personally and would like to add my own congratulations on their achievements.

  Specifically I would like to mention Mark Nevin who was "Best of Nation" for achieving the overall best score of any of the 26 UK team competitors.

  WorldSkills will next be held in 2011 in London. This is another excellent opportunity to showcase the exceptional talent within Scotland and I hope our young people will try to get involved through heats at their local college or through their employer. In Calgary Scotland had our largest ever representation in a UK team than in any other skills competition and I would like to see us improve on this again for London 2011.